Jim Brooks on fri 5 may 06
Bonnie... molded clay is generally stonger than thrown..
Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman on fri 5 may 06
A friend in the Pittsburgh, PA area is looking to have someone make about=
=20
20-25 covered cookie jars, large enough to hold 2 dozen 3=94 cookies. The=
jars=20
need to have a butterfly motif and the name of the organization (which is=
20=20
letters & spaces long) plus their 1-800 phone number. They need to have=20
burgundy color somewhere since that=92s the company color. They are hopi=
ng to=20
pay less than $20 apiece including delivery.
These covered jars do not need to look alike but they need to have=20
recognizable butterflies and a readable company name and phone number.
My friend expects to use these as marketing tools, where they will take t=
hem=20
to various customer sites, fill them with cookies for the staff, and=20
periodically refill them with cookies.
If you=92re interested, please email me, Bonnie Hellman, at=20
mou10man@adelphia.net
I will forward your replies, plus any web sites or attached photos.
TIA
Bonnie
Cindy Gatto on fri 5 may 06
Is it me or is this price very low ? I am NOT being obnoxious or sarcastic
or anything of that nature I am dead serious! I am in the middle of trying to
wholesale my work and come up with prices and I am having a really hard time
I am really wondering are these acceptable prices? Is this the going rate? I
am asking this because here in NYC I couldn't make something like this for
$20 with shipping and I am really starting to think I am just in the wrong
place if I want to be a functional potter.
Cindy Gatto & Mark Petrin
The Mudpit
228 Manhattan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11206
718-218-9424
_www.mudpitnyc.com_ (http://www.mudpitnyc.com/)
mudpitnyc@aol.com
Shula on fri 5 may 06
>From: Cindy Gatto
>Is it me or is this price very low ? . . . I am dead serious! . . . here in NYC I couldn't make something like this for
>$20 with shipping
It sounds rather low to me, too, unless someone goes to a "paint" and fire place with a stencil of a butterfly and the appropriate letters and numbers for the company's name and phone number.
Shula
as the sun sets in Redondo Beach, California USA
Earl Brunner on fri 5 may 06
You're kidding, right? For $20.00, I'll jump right on
THAT. And delivered too?
Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On
Behalf Of Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 7:16 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Cookie jars wanted
A friend in the Pittsburgh, PA area is looking to have
someone make about
20-25 covered cookie jars, large enough to hold 2 dozen
3" cookies. The jars
need to have a butterfly motif and the name of the
organization (which is 20
letters & spaces long) plus their 1-800 phone number.
They need to have
burgundy color somewhere since that's the company
color. They are hoping to
pay less than $20 apiece including delivery.
These covered jars do not need to look alike but they
need to have
recognizable butterflies and a readable company name
and phone number.
My friend expects to use these as marketing tools,
where they will take them
to various customer sites, fill them with cookies for
the staff, and
periodically refill them with cookies.
If you're interested, please email me, Bonnie Hellman,
at
mou10man@adelphia.net
I will forward your replies, plus any web sites or
attached photos.
TIA
Bonnie
_______________________________________________________
_______________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change
your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be
reached at melpots@pclink.com.
m.mshelomi on fri 5 may 06
Cindy...
I agree with you! =20
After reading the original request, I deleted it, muttered for awhile, =
and
shook my head in disbelief. =20
Shipping alone would cost me more than $20 per item! =20
It makes me angry, at times, when I see glass or paintings selling for=20
hundreds/thousands of dollars with no discernable merit other than some=20
person made the object rather than being made in a factory. =20
Clay is undervalued on the whole... Sometimes, even by folks who=20
earn their living with clay.=20
Maybe that is why Mel says, when folks talk about "playing" with clay,
"being a potter is damn serious. it is brutal hard work. If you are =
going=20
to get better, become a professional... well, act like it. talk like =
it." =20
I would add, and expect, no, demand, to be paid as a professional. =20
pottermim on the Gulf Coast of Florida
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Cindy Gatto"
To:
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: Cookie jars wanted
> Is it me or is this price very low ? I am NOT being obnoxious or =
sarcastic
> or anything of that nature I am dead serious! I am in the middle of =
trying to
> wholesale my work and come up with prices and I am having a really =
hard time
> I am really wondering are these acceptable prices? Is this the going =
rate? I
> am asking this because here in NYC I couldn't make something like this =
for
> $20 with shipping and I am really starting to think I am just in the =
wrong
> place if I want to be a functional potter.
>=20
> Cindy Gatto & Mark Petrin
> The Mudpit
> 228 Manhattan Ave
> Brooklyn, NY 11206
> 718-218-9424
> _www.mudpitnyc.com_ (http://www.mudpitnyc.com/)
> mudpitnyc@aol.com
>=20
> =
_________________________________________________________________________=
_____
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>=20
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>=20
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at =
melpots@pclink.com.
>=20
>
Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman on fri 5 may 06
Hi Cindy,
For many potters this is a low price. Clearly we would not expect unique
works of art at this price, and that's exactly why I included it. The buyer
might go a little higher, but her other choice is to go to a friend's "Paint
it Yourself" place with molded jars. My main objection there is the strength
of earthenware.
Cindy, you also live in an area with one of the highest costs of living in
the USA. You are used to paying a lot more, and probably selling your work
for a lot more, than people who live in the Midwest, for example.
We live in the Pittsburgh, PA area, which has a modest cost of living. So I
didn't think that $20 was a low price when someone is looking to buy in
wholesale quantities, and wasn't even looking for identical pieces.
I guess we won't be expecting your bid.
Bonnie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cindy Gatto"
To:
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: Cookie jars wanted
> Is it me or is this price very low ? I am NOT being obnoxious or
> sarcastic
> or anything of that nature I am dead serious! I am in the middle of
> trying to
> wholesale my work and come up with prices and I am having a really hard
> time
> I am really wondering are these acceptable prices? Is this the going
> rate? I
> am asking this because here in NYC I couldn't make something like this
> for
> $20 with shipping and I am really starting to think I am just in the wrong
> place if I want to be a functional potter.
>
> Cindy Gatto & Mark Petrin
> The Mudpit
> 228 Manhattan Ave
> Brooklyn, NY 11206
> 718-218-9424
> _www.mudpitnyc.com_ (http://www.mudpitnyc.com/)
> mudpitnyc@aol.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
David Hendley on fri 5 may 06
Like Cindy, I am treading softly because I don't want to seem
overly judgmental, and I especially don't want to insult my
friend Bonnie's friend, but......
less than $20 for a handmade cookie jar is ridiculously low.
Add in the fact that shipping cost has to included, it has to
be packaged for shipment, it has to have a burgundy glaze
(one of the hardest colors to consistently achieve), it needs
to have custom lettering and a custom butterfly design,
and the price is completely and totally unreasonable.
In expensive New York City, this price would be even more
absurd. Just the costs of the materials, energy for firings, and
postage for shipping would probably come to more than $10.
A "typical" price for a smallish handmade cookie jar, made
by a competent but not-a-big-name potter, is probably
$40 - 70. The wholesale price would be half of that, but the
buyer would pay all shipping costs, and probably a 5-10%
packing fee. Most potters would charge significantly more
for a piece with custom lettering and artwork.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
david@farmpots.com
www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
> Is it me or is this price very low ? I am NOT being obnoxious or
> sarcastic
> or anything of that nature I am dead serious! I am in the middle of
> trying to
> wholesale my work and come up with prices and I am having a really hard
> time
> I am really wondering are these acceptable prices? Is this the going
> rate? I
> am asking this because here in NYC I couldn't make something like this
> for
> $20 with shipping and I am really starting to think I am just in the wrong
> place if I want to be a functional potter.
>
> Cindy Gatto & Mark Petrin
> The Mudpit
> 228 Manhattan Ave
> Brooklyn, NY 11206
> 718-218-9424
L. P. Skeen on sat 6 may 06
Hey Bonnie, I don't mean to dis you, but really. $20? With company =
name/phone number and a butterfly PLUS having to get burgundy glaze just =
for the job? The time it takes to put all that on would be worth more =
than $20 even at wholesale. Sounds like the paint-n-burn is the place =
for her to go. In fact, I think it would be a good experience for her =
if you explain what we're all saying in terms of the price, and then =
take her to the paint-n-burn and let her do the decoration on one =
herself so she gets an idea exactly what she's asking a professional =
potter to do for next to nothing. THEN she can add in the cost of =
throwing and trimming the pot. She should then be able to see the job =
is worth at least twice $20, even at wholesale.
L
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman=20
For many potters this [$20] is a low price. Clearly we would not =
expect unique works of art at this price, and that's exactly why I =
included it. The buyer might go a little higher, but her other choice is =
to go to a friend's "Paint it Yourself" place with molded jars.
Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman on sat 6 may 06
I will go back to my friend with the comments on prices for her company's=
=20
cookie jars.
As for shipping, since these days even the US postal service prices by=20
distance, someone close to Pittsburgh, PA would not have the major shippi=
ng=20
issues (packing, expense) as someone further away.
There is also nothing in this request to preclude someone making slip cas=
t=20
or otherwise molded cookie jars. There is nothing that says the GLAZE has=
to=20
be burgundy, only that there needs to be burgundy somewhere on the cookie=
=20
jar. And there is nothing that says the letters must be painted on-- they=
=20
could be pressed on.
I understand that $20 apiece is very low, but this doesn't mean that ther=
e=20
isn't a clayarter who might want to tackle this assignment.
They want cookie jars with their name, with a butterfly image somewhere o=
n=20
the jar, with something in burgundy (maybe the butterfly?).
Hey, I watched Bill Shinn (at NCECA in the Bailey booth) extrude large=20
cylinders, which he attached to a slab, and "threw" on the wheel into a=20
cookie jar shape. Didn't take him long.
I've also made stamps with words on them out of smooth clay (then bisqued=
),=20
which I press into moist clay for either raised or impressed letters.=20
Doesn't take long to make the stamp, and even faster to use it.
I've also made stamps with designs on them out of clay. Could easily make=
a=20
butterfly stamp if I had an operational studio here. (We have packed up=20
almost everything, trying to sell this house in the eastern suburbs of=20
Pittsburgh. No clay for me until we get to SW Colorado in the middle of=20
June.)
Nothing says you couldn't use a cork as a lid, although I don't know the=20
price.
Nothing says you couldn't make a cookie box instead of a jar.
Yes, it is not a lot of money for a cookie jar or box. And yes, this is n=
ot=20
a request that will appeal to everyone. But my friend was hoping that the=
=20
idea of making 20-25 cookie jars might appeal to someone, and clearly the=
=20
key (from a business viewpoint) is to figure out how to make them quickly=
=20
and easily.
So if anyone is interested, please contact me.
Bonnie Hellman
mou10man@frontier.net
P.S. Chris, I thought Earl was being facetious. Earl?
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Chris Campbell"
To:
Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2006 12:08 PM
Subject: Re: Cookie jars wanted
> OK - you knew the 'business' potter could
> not shut up on this one.
>
> The people asking for it are simply judging
> prices by street fairs, Walmart and such.
> I am positive they could have this job machined
> for less and be very happy with it.
> ...and ... that is what they should do if all they
> want is a cheap cookie jar to fill.
>
> Earl (unless you were kidding) ...
> have you shipped anything since the
> fuel prices went up???
> I've shipped a lot this week and the prices
> were unbelievable. I was very happy to be
> adding them to invoices rather than eating
> the loss.
>
> There is no way any serious working potter
> can make a profit producing, packing and
> shipping a $20 cookie jar.
> No, you can't make it up on volume either.
>
> The time taken, the energy costs, the shipping
> costs ... making extras to build in for breakage
> ... how about the lids warping or not fitting right
> ... having the glaze not be the perfect corporate
> color ... fire them a bit wrong and you've got
> a kiln full of pink/white pots ... nightmare time.
>
> It is not wrong of these people to ask for it ...
> they do not know what they are requesting.
>
> I am sure someone on this list will try it too ...
> they do not know what muck they are stepping
> into.
>
> Chris Campbell - in North Carolina - of course, taking on this
> job will be a huge learning experience in what never, ever to
> do again.
>
>
>
> Chris Campbell Pottery LLC
> 9417 Koupela Drive
> Raleigh NC 27615-2233
>
> Fine Colored Porcelain since 1989
>
> 1-800-652-1008
> Fax : 919-676-2062
> website: www.ccpottery.com
> wholesale : www.wholesalecrafts.com
>
> _______________________________________________________________________=
_______
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at=20
> melpots@pclink.com.
> =01=20
Michael Wendt on sat 6 may 06
Bonnie,
Your friend needs to go to a paint your own pottery
place and buy, paint and pay to have fired just one.
Have her keep a time log.
Report the time and skill needed to do this in low
fire.
Then let her imagine the skill and time it takes on the
wheel.
Cost breakdown:
cash outlay items:
clay for a 3 qt canister: 4 lbs @ $0.25/lb = $1.00
assorted glazes and stains (estimate) = $0.50
Box to ship this size =
$1.50
labor and production costs:
Wedging, throwing, trimming, bisque, glazing,
lettering,
firing and then packing the item. 30 min @ $30.00/hr
= $15.00
investment recovery:
this is often neglected in figuring cost. If you invest
$30,000 in a home studio, how much return on
investment would you get if the same money was
placed in the stock market or a mutual fund? 8%
per year right now? That's $2400/ year or $2000
per month. Divide that by 160 hours of studio time
per month and you should figure in $7.50/ hour for
investment so this figure is $3.75
Remember, you would not need to do any work
for this return once you provided the money to
the investment agent so this is quite distinct from
the $30.00 / hour I allowed for production costs
and wages.
Keep in mind too, this is a very small run and would
probably not wind up in China.
Right now, this totals to $20.75 before shipping!
Now for the cincher:
Shipping a 5 lb package UPS even from a short
distance will cost between $7 to $12 depending
on the city size and rate.
I think you friend's organization needs to either allow
about $60-$80 per jar with these preconditions or
else go the low fire ceramic route
I can do the jars for about $80.00 each delivered.
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
USA
wendtpot@lewiston.com
www.wendtpottery.com
Bonnie wrote:
A friend in the Pittsburgh, PA area is looking to have
someone make about
20-25 covered cookie jars, large enough to hold 2 dozen
3" cookies. The jars
need to have a butterfly motif and the name of the
organization (which is 20
letters & spaces long) plus their 1-800 phone number.
They need to have
burgundy color somewhere since that's the company
color. They are hoping to
pay less than $20 apiece including delivery.
These covered jars do not need to look alike but they
need to have
recognizable butterflies and a readable company name
and phone number.
My friend expects to use these as marketing tools,
where they will take them
to various customer sites, fill them with cookies for
the staff, and
periodically refill them with cookies.
If you're interested, please email me, Bonnie Hellman,
Chris Campbell on sat 6 may 06
OK - you knew the 'business' potter could
not shut up on this one.
The people asking for it are simply judging
prices by street fairs, Walmart and such.
I am positive they could have this job machined
for less and be very happy with it.
...and ... that is what they should do if all they
want is a cheap cookie jar to fill.
Earl (unless you were kidding) ...
have you shipped anything since the
fuel prices went up???
I've shipped a lot this week and the prices
were unbelievable. I was very happy to be
adding them to invoices rather than eating
the loss.
There is no way any serious working potter
can make a profit producing, packing and
shipping a $20 cookie jar.
No, you can't make it up on volume either.
The time taken, the energy costs, the shipping
costs ... making extras to build in for breakage
... how about the lids warping or not fitting right
... having the glaze not be the perfect corporate
color ... fire them a bit wrong and you've got
a kiln full of pink/white pots ... nightmare time.
It is not wrong of these people to ask for it ...
they do not know what they are requesting.
I am sure someone on this list will try it too ...
they do not know what muck they are stepping
into.
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina - of course, taking on this
job will be a huge learning experience in what never, ever to
do again.
Chris Campbell Pottery LLC
9417 Koupela Drive
Raleigh NC 27615-2233
Fine Colored Porcelain since 1989
1-800-652-1008
Fax : 919-676-2062
website: www.ccpottery.com
wholesale : www.wholesalecrafts.com
Jean Cochran on sun 7 may 06
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! $20. ha, ha, ha, ha
Jean Wadsworth Cochran
www.foxhollowpottery.com
www.kycraft.ky.gov/craftcgi-bin/index.cgi?busid=186
Michael Wendt on sun 7 may 06
Math error... ;-(
8% of 30000 is really 2400
but 1/12 of that is actually 200
Carry on from there.
The real point is this is too little
for the cookie jars.
Regards
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
USA
wendtpot@lewiston.com
www.wendtpottery.com
I mistakenly wrote:
this is often neglected in figuring cost. If you invest
$30,000 in a home studio, how much return on
investment would you get if the same money was
placed in the stock market or a mutual fund? 8%
per year right now? That's $2400/ year or $2000
per month. Divide that by 160 hours of studio time
per month and you should figure in $7.50/ hour for
investment so this figure is $3.75
Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman on sun 7 may 06
One more thought--- for anyone who is somewhat close in price to what my
friend wants to pay. Make an offer!
If I were going to tackle this, I'd probably use a large extrusion, maybe
the Bailey cloverleaf die for their expansion box, or maybe just the large
round die, and make a base 9-10" tall, and a lid maybe 2" tall, and add a
strip to hold the top on. Or maybe make it like a closed form, and cut the
lid when the piece is leatherhard, like so many magazine articles I've read.
I think I'd still want to add a little lip to be sure the top stays on
securely.
I might stamp the name and the butterfly or butterflies on separate thin
pieces of clay to attach as raised pieces.
They are looking for cookie jars/boxes that are eye catching, yet have the
company's name and phone number on them.
BTW I'd love to see them pay $80 apiece and get works of art, but these are
PR pieces, and they may well buy commercially made jars/boxes, or they may
well end up spending more. I don't know.
Personally I think it's tacky to include a company name on the jar. I'd get
cookies from a bakery in a bakery box, and put nice labels on them, if they
want to bring cookies. I also think that cookies stored out in the open for
more than a day taste old.
I'm the messenger, and I'm forwarding your comments to my friend, so thanks
to all for sharing your thoughts.
BTW if anyone is interested in tackling this assignment, and doesn't want
his/her name public, I'd be happy to keep your name out of clayart.
Bonnie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman"
To:
Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2006 11:21 PM
Subject: Cookie jars wanted
I will go back to my friend with the comments on prices for her company's
cookie jars.
As for shipping, since these days even the US postal service prices by
distance, someone close to Pittsburgh, PA would not have the major shipping
issues (packing, expense) as someone further away.
There is also nothing in this request to preclude someone making slip cast
or otherwise molded cookie jars. There is nothing that says the GLAZE has to
be burgundy, only that there needs to be burgundy somewhere on the cookie
jar. And there is nothing that says the letters must be painted on-- they
could be pressed on.
I understand that $20 apiece is very low, but this doesn't mean that there
isn't a clayarter who might want to tackle this assignment.
They want cookie jars with their name, with a butterfly image somewhere on
the jar, with something in burgundy (maybe the butterfly?).
Hey, I watched Bill Shinn (at NCECA in the Bailey booth) extrude large
cylinders, which he attached to a slab, and "threw" on the wheel into a
cookie jar shape. Didn't take him long.
I've also made stamps with words on them out of smooth clay (then bisqued),
which I press into moist clay for either raised or impressed letters.
Doesn't take long to make the stamp, and even faster to use it.
I've also made stamps with designs on them out of clay. Could easily make a
butterfly stamp if I had an operational studio here. (We have packed up
almost everything, trying to sell this house in the eastern suburbs of
Pittsburgh. No clay for me until we get to SW Colorado in the middle of
June.)
Nothing says you couldn't use a cork as a lid, although I don't know the
price.
Nothing says you couldn't make a cookie box instead of a jar.
Yes, it is not a lot of money for a cookie jar or box. And yes, this is not
a request that will appeal to everyone. But my friend was hoping that the
idea of making 20-25 cookie jars might appeal to someone, and clearly the
key (from a business viewpoint) is to figure out how to make them quickly
and easily.
So if anyone is interested, please contact me.
Bonnie Hellman
mou10man@frontier.net
Chris Campbell on sun 7 may 06
Ok ... so if I was advising these people I would
tell them to raise their sights a bit ...
envision a cookie jar that would attract attention ...
a cookie jar that would be so beautiful ...
one people would crave to touch ...
a cookie jar that a kid would stare at and just know
the cookies would be home made and terrific.
A jar that makes people wish it was theirs ...
one to pass down through families ...
one touched by inspiration and imagination ...
one made by a HUMAN BEING ...
a potter at the prime of their talents ...
dang .... dreaming again !!!
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
Chris Campbell Pottery LLC
9417 Koupela Drive
Raleigh NC 27615-2233
Fine Colored Porcelain since 1989
1-800-652-1008
Fax : 919-676-2062
website: www.ccpottery.com
wholesale : www.wholesalecrafts.com
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on mon 8 may 06
Really, they'd be better off finding someone who
makes really 'good' Cookies, and have that person
make Cookies with the Company name on them. Or in
the shape of the Company 'crest' or 'logo' or
favorite product or something...
And, forget the Cookie Jar...which at best is one
( "1" ) dare I say it? "Stupid" idea...
And instead, use a pasteboard container the size
of a conventional Bakery Box for two dozens or
something, and have some catchy-fun
and memorable and even tasteful 'company' label,
on it.
People would keep the Box then to keep
s-o-m-e-t-h-i-n-g in, Sewing stuff or Notions or
old Dentures or tax records or emergency boxes of
condoms or whatever, and, would enjoy it for those
or other
future incidental uses...and, reflect fondly on
the practicality and taste of the company which
provided it, even of only perpherally in their
museings to so appreciate it...
A Cookie Jar, especially an ugly one, a mediocre
one, a typical one, or any one likely to be chosen
by some ceo, would be an
embarassment for anyone ( or should be, ) to have
on their counter
top, and would likely end up in the storage shed
or land fill...or out by the 'curb', or should...
If I had a Nickle for every tasteless creep moron
hide bound shallow CEO schmuck, wanting some
senseless gimmic to comemmorate or advertise some
corporate schtick, I could buy one helluva lot of
Coca Cola, IBM or whatever stock...(not that I
would mind you...)
Too, it is a scientific fact, that if one lined
them all up, ( CEOs I mean, ) end to end, in a
long flat end-to-end kinda way, stratched out
finger-tips-of-one to-the-heels-of-the-next, on
like that as far as it would go, (and left them
there, at Bayonette Point if need be, to encourage
compliance, ) you'd have a line that would
stretch...far enough...
...to make the 'world' a much, MUCH better
place...
.....sigh...
Love,
Phil
el v
David Hendley on mon 8 may 06
Again, Bonnie, I don't want come across as overly critical,
but the only word I can use for your idea of extruding cookie
jars that would sell for less than $20, including packing and
shipping, is insane.
Have you ever actually done what you are suggesting?
Creating a tall wide extrusion and then making a lid that
fits, has a gallery to hold it on, and still fits after high firing
is a difficult, time consuming order. I would estimate that
a beginner trying it for the first time would have a 50%
loss rate. As one who has been extruding for 30 years,
I would be happy to have an 80% success rate.
Extruding is handbuilding - it requires much more time
than throwing. A competent thrower could have a couple
of jars thrown before the extruder was even set up, another
one by the time the first 10" section was extruded, and two
more by the time top and bottom slabs were rolled out,
scored, and attached to the first extrusion.
Extruding a cylinder and then throwing it on a wheel, as
you suggested yesterday, is harder, requires more skill,
and takes longer than simply throwing the form. This is
not theoretical speculating - I regularly do it and recently
filmed such a project for my extruding video series.
(I do it for tall skinny forms that are too narrow to
efficiently throw the traditional way.)
I, myself, would not even install the expansion box on my
extruder, load it with clay, and then clean it all up for $20.
For a 10" tall extruded jar I would (and do) charge $100
to $125, I would not wholesale it for less, and any shipping
would be extra. If I had to make a stamp of a phone number,
bisque fire it, and then impress it in the extruded jar, the
price would increase accordingly.
I am not really writing this to you, Bonnie - I just want to
make sure that anyone reading Clayart who might think this
is a feasible idea knows what is really involved.
Extruding clay is one of those things that seems so quick
and simple, but it's not. I have many times heard people's
plans to knock out items with an extruder, sell them
inexpensively, and make a lot of money. It just doesn't
work that way. All you get from an extruder is a ribbon
or tube of clay, and it takes time to make it into even the
simplest thing.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
david(at)farmpots(dot)com
"EXTRUDE IT! Getting the Most From
Your Clay Extruder" available at
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
> If I were going to tackle this, I'd probably use a large extrusion, maybe
> the Bailey cloverleaf die for their expansion box, or maybe just the large
> round die, and make a base 9-10" tall, and a lid maybe 2" tall, and add a
> strip to hold the top on. Or maybe make it like a closed form, and cut the
> lid when the piece is leatherhard, like so many magazine articles I've
> read.
> I think I'd still want to add a little lip to be sure the top stays on
> securely.
>
> I might stamp the name and the butterfly or butterflies on separate thin
> pieces of clay to attach as raised pieces.
>
Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman on mon 8 may 06
Hi Chris,
As usual, your thoughts are excellent on how to "sell" the concept that
these people should be willing to pay more for a hand made cookie container.
I'll be talking with my friend....
Bonnie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Campbell"
To:
Sent: Sunday, May 07, 2006 8:29 PM
Subject: Re: Cookie jars wanted
> Ok ... so if I was advising these people I would
> tell them to raise their sights a bit ...
>
> envision a cookie jar that would attract attention ...
> a cookie jar that would be so beautiful ...
> one people would crave to touch ...
>
> a cookie jar that a kid would stare at and just know
> the cookies would be home made and terrific.
>
> A jar that makes people wish it was theirs ...
> one to pass down through families ...
>
> one touched by inspiration and imagination ...
> one made by a HUMAN BEING ...
>
> a potter at the prime of their talents ...
>
> dang .... dreaming again !!!
>
> Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
>
> Chris Campbell Pottery LLC
> 9417 Koupela Drive
> Raleigh NC 27615-2233
>
> Fine Colored Porcelain since 1989
>
> 1-800-652-1008
> Fax : 919-676-2062
> website: www.ccpottery.com
> wholesale : www.wholesalecrafts.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
Merrill Kramer on tue 9 may 06
In addition to being a potter, I spent 30 years as a buyer of "decorative
home accessories" and also did event planning.
I realize the impossibility of providing a $20 (DELIVERED) cookies jar that
is handcrafted.
Why not consider a mass-produced commercially available glass (or plastic,
arghh) container.such as an apothecary-styled jar?
It could be personalized using a custom made/printed burgundy colored
sticker containing the butterfly logo and telephone number.
Problem solved for a customer with unrealistic expectation and debate ended
for ClayArt on why potters cannot produce items for less than their cost of
labor, materials and overhead. Seems simple to me.
Just my 2 cents.
Merrill in Florida
Heather Pedersen on wed 10 may 06
While normally I encurage people with any interests in pottery, whatever it
may be for, it really sounds as if this is not the medium for this task if
you have a price point of $20. If they are will to invest an additional
amount in order to give the customers the special feeling of having this
jar made JUST for THEM (after all, you could have a special dedication on
it for each customer perhaps?? Ok, maybe I should not go there. Anyway...)
It also sounds as if the cookies are the important part of the gift,
especially if they are planning on refilling the jar periodically. So
perhaps their purposes would be better served with a glass jar, and some
nice custom sticker/label on the outside. The jar isn't really a keepsake
at that point, but it would get the job done in the price range they want
(maybe).
Alright, I think I have quivicated sufficiently on this answer. Enjoy!
-= Heather Pedersen
| |
|
